woodies on tiof..., page-4

Well Davfitz ... you wanted more info from Woodside.

Spaghetti = lotsa sand packs as the sand is in thin layers = expensive.

"NEW YORK, Sept 30 (Reuters) - Australia's Woodside Petroleum Ltd. (WPL.AX: Quote, Profile, Research) said on Friday that its Tiof oil discovery offshore Mauritania in west Africa would be an extremely difficult project to develop.

"It is a billion barrels in total size but the question is how much can you get out of it, Chief Executive Donald Voelte told reporters at the Merrill Lynch Australia Investment Conference.

Voelte said the geological structure of Tiof was "like a bowl of spaghetti", presenting challenges over the number of wells that needed to be drilled and their economics.

"We are hoping to come to a decision shortly, but it is an extremely difficult project," he said.

Woodside has 54 percent of the project. Its partners are Hardman Resources Ltd. (HRD.AX: Quote, Profile, Research) BG Group (BG.L: Quote, Profile, Research) Sterling Energy (SEY.L: Quote, Profile, Research) and Roc Oil Co. Ltd. (ROC.AX: Quote, Profile, Research)

Voelte said a joint venture meeting would be held in the next month or two, but it was not yet certain when a decision would be made on the project."